Tl'.E UfW 
 
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 3 1822 01053 4097 
 
 WYNKOOP HAUENBECK CRAWFORD CO., PRINTERS, NEW YORK.
 
 ERSITY OF 
 UFOHNIA 
 
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 THE KNABE PIANOS. 
 
 TESTIMONIALS FROM DISTINGUISHED ARTISTS, COMPOSERS 
 
 AND MUSICIANS. 
 
 Thalberg, the great composer and musician, wrote of the Knabe pianos that they 
 were " distinguished for their evenness and volume of tone, and their easy and agreeable 
 touch." 
 
 Gottschalk, whose name is still beloved in this country, said of them, " I do not 
 hesitate to declare them equal, if not supeiior, to the best manufactured in Europe or 
 this country by the most celebrated makers." 
 
 Marmontel, the celebrated professor of the Conservatory of Music, Paris, said the 
 Knabe pianos are instruments of the first merit, and regretted that they were not 
 exhibited at the great Paris Exposition of 1867, as " the name of Knabe would certainly 
 have added additional honor and success to American industry and skill." 
 
 Sir Julius Benedict, the renowned English composer and conductor, declared, 
 after personal use of a Knabe piano, that it was " one of the most perfect pianos I 
 ever met with j their success, whether in a large concert-hall or in a private drawing- 
 room, does not admit of the slightest doubt, and will become as universal- as well 
 deserved." 
 
 Teresa Carreno, the eminent pianist, renowned in Furope as well as America, 
 chose the Knabe Grands for her concert tour because she " had carefully tested all the 
 prominent pianos in America, and had found in th" K.nabe warerooms the piano which 
 gave her satisfaction in every point, and which could sustain her most efficiently in the 
 severe task before her." 
 
 'Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler, the distinguished pianist, and the favorite pupil of 
 Leschetitzky, the husband of Madame Essipoff, after " having used the Knabe pianos 
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 action and touch, and remarkable durability, an^ stand in tune under the severest 
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 The late Edmund Neupert, the distinguished Danish pianist, preferred the Knabe 
 Grand, because, as he said, il I have never used an instrument which has met all the 
 requirements of an artist more completely than those of the Knabe make." 
 
 Wilhelm Ganz, another celebrated composer and musician, who resided for many 
 years in England, gave it as his opinion that " these instruments are in every respect 
 most perfect in tone and touch." 
 
 Bernhard Scholz, the composer, after using the Knabe Grands at his concerts in 
 : Breslau, Germany, unhesitatingly stated that " they are as near perfection as can be 
 made." This opinion was indorsed by Dr. Julius Schaefer, the royal professor and 
 ' musical director, who pronounced them " absolute perfection." 
 
 The late Dr. Damrosch, founder of the Oratorio and Symphony Societies, whose 
 name will be forever honored in the musical annals of this country, preferred the Knabe 
 pianos to all others because they were " perfect in power and sweetness of tone, remark- 
 able for the easy and even touch."
 
 
 
 ♦ 1 T 
 
 
 Mr. VICTORIEN SARDOU. 
 
 An original writer is not lie who imitates no one, but he who no one can 
 imitate. Shakespeare called the plots of his best pieces from legends be- 
 qaeathed to the World by his predecessors, and Moliere admitted with the 
 most artless good faith, " qu'U a pris son Men oh il Va trouve" Both, however, 
 are inimitable ; out of the raw metal which they fused they contrived to issue 
 coin bearing their individual stamp. Of a hundred writers treating a given 
 subject, only one would be capable of imprinting it with the seal of his per- 
 sonality. 
 
 Personality ; all the immense worth of Victorien Sardou is denned by that 
 one word. Philosophy and charm, science and art, all take through him. in 
 him, and by him an actual and a clearly engraved physiognomy, which it is 
 impossible not to recognize, and which would be foolish and unjust to try to 
 ignore. In the course of his active and triumphant career, Sardou has several 
 times had occasion to give his valuable advice upon certain works ; to touch 
 up a scene, or to slip in a judicious word, to heighten a situation here, or \o 
 develope a character there. However anonymous these retouches mignt be, 
 though, it was impossible not to distinguish them at first glance, am one 
 trait being sufficient to reveal the master-hand. 
 
 Victorien Sardou's father, who was a distinguished spirit, great scholar, 
 and thorough lexicographer, to whom also we owe a very precious edition of 
 Kabelais, sent the boy, to grow at his freedom in Drienon l'Archeveque, one 
 of the prettiest villages imaginable. Brought back to Paris, the young man 
 entered first the Ecole de Commerce de Charonne and afterwards the College 
 Henry IV. Who knows if, from these two different sources of education, there 
 do not arise in Sardou's work its happy admixture of the open frankness of 
 practical life and the delicacy of classic art. Ardent, curious to see and to 
 know, he commenced the study of medicine, but even then the dramatic instinct 
 had awakened in him, and already having taken up his pen, he endeavored to 
 give scenic form to his thoughts, — a form so difficult to seize, since it is the 
 result of action told in dialogue. 
 
 Les amis imaginaires, which perhaps gave birth to Nos Intimes and La Retne 
 fepa, are the first conceptions of Sardou, who soon, however, taking bolder 
 flight, attacked Bernard Palissy in verse, some published fragments of which 
 bespeak the dramatic author as well as the mere writer. 
 
 A prey to the difficulties of existence ; poor and wishing to devote himself 
 entirely to his art, Sardou, pale, thin and delicate, had to yield himself up to
 
 4 VICTORIES SARDOU. 
 
 ceaseless work in order to live ; giving lessons and collaborating with com- 
 pilers of dictionnaries and encyclopedias of all kinds, gaining his bread at the 
 point of his pen, contributing, among other works, some excellent articles to 
 the " Nouvelle Biographic Gcne'rale" by Doctor Hoefer, and constantly adding 
 to the stores of his learning, and making provisions of arms for the literary 
 combat. Alas! the first literary battle of this courageous soldier was to end 
 ( in disorder. The conqueror began with defeat. La Taverne des Etudiants, a 
 comedy in three acts of verse, was, in spite of its amusing qualities, its origin- 
 ality and its many fine lines, a non-success, a failure, a fiasco (we may as well 
 say the word) of the most pronounced description ; piteous baptism of fire, 
 which retarded for several years the blossoming of the ardent hopes of the 
 indomitable wrestler. In this plight poor Sardou, shattered but still in a fever 
 of ambitious expectancy, was forced to stand aside and see himself passed by 
 for the successes of that year, 1854, which remained a never to be forgotten 
 year for him. 
 
 It was then that Sardou, having entered into partnership with Paul Feval, 
 a novelist of the gloomy < rder, who, in spite of many efforts had, up to that 
 period, obtained no success in the theatre — suddenly signed Le Bossn, one of 
 the sword and cloak school of drama, and certainly one of the most charming 
 and the best contrived since the days of Dumas pere. 
 
 Sardou, when young, had the profile of Bonaparte, as he has now that of 
 Erasmus — having made allowances for the period, he threw into the fire all 
 the used up tricks, worn out phrases, old fashioned platitudes, and in each 
 new work he extended his method. It was then they had Sardou in his early 
 style ; airy, amusing, ironical, as in the Pattes de mouche, the Femmes fortes, 
 ■j -$08 Intimes and La Famille Benoilou, in the Vieuse Gar cons and Maison Neuve, 
 exquisite productions, wherein one feels that the author has been the first to 
 take delight in them. Later on he wrote Seraphine and Fernande, both of 
 which are pieces of the first order of merit. 
 
 One day, one of the brightest which has shed lustre upon Sardou's glory, 
 he turned his attention to the drama of Patrie, and again to La Haine, a 
 tragedy-act at once superior, elevated and, in every way, wonderful. In both 
 these powerful dramas Sardou has stirred up the noblest passions and the 
 purest sentiments. They equal the efforts of the oldest matters as much by 
 their lofty aims as by their style and conception. Then came the war, — that 
 terrible war of 1870. The revolution, which followed in its train, furnished 
 Sardou with one of his most thrilling inspirations, Babagas, a magnificent 
 picture and a cruel satire ; a political comedy, wherein the state of the minds, 
 manners, hopes and follies at the moment are faithfully set forth. 
 
 Patrie, La Haine, Babagas, Theodora and Fedora are the culminating 
 points of Sardou's prodigious talent. 
 
 Do you wish to laugh ? There is VEcureuil, an indescribable fantaisie ; 
 there is Le Magot, a topsy-turvy folie, irresistibly contagious ; there is Les 
 Gens Nerveux ; there is Les Ganuches ; and there is Divorcons, a bouffonerie, 
 containing one of the most bitterly philosophical comedies of the day. 
 
 If you prefer that sweet emotion where one's tears are brightened by a 
 tende** smile, we have Andrea; we have Fereol, we have Dora, we have Odette,
 
 VICTORIEN SARDOU. 5 
 
 and we have Georgette, where the author makes us weep even while he is sup- 
 porting a theory, one of the most arduous and exciting theories of the nine- 
 teenth century, namely, the redemption of a Magdalen by the means of 
 maternity. 
 
 If you would rather have a subject picture, choose Don Quichotte ; choose 
 VOncleSam; choose Les Fei m nes fortes , choose Les Papillons ; Nos Intimes, 
 or Les Merveilleuscs, a priceless pearl set in the purest gold. If you incline 
 towards the terrible, to the quick drawn emotion of modern passions, try 
 Les Diables Noirs, try Fernande, or Maison Neuve, or Fedora ; without reckon- 
 ing those which I can only say are not less interesting, such as La Perle Noire^ 
 Les Bourgeois de Pantarey and Daniel Bochat. 
 
 On the 8th of February, 1877 (and a just reward it was for his honest labor 
 to sustain and perpetuate the artistic glory of France), Yictorien Sardou was 
 elected a member of the Academie Frangaise, one of the immortal forty ! 
 
 When young, Sardou dissected the heart of man anatomically. Later on, 
 towards 1861, we find him seeking the soul through spiritualism, and that is 
 not one of the least curious means his intellect employed in its quest of the 
 new and the unknown. 
 
 In those days there existed a Society of Spiritualists, presided over by a 
 certain Bivail, ex-manager of one of the Boulevard theatres, christened Allan- 
 Kardoc "by a spirit," that of a suicide probably, for in these seances they chiefly 
 invoked those who had of their own will passed unbidden into eternity, such, 
 as Gerard de Nerval, for instance. 
 
 Sardou held a distinguished position amongst these adepts, and published 
 in his capacity of Medium a " Yoyage fait d ns la planete de Jupiter." 
 
 Whoever knows Sardou, whoever has listened to this inexhaustible and 
 learned conversationalist, and — this above all — whoever has assisted at one of 
 his readings, where, Proteus-like, he is the living incarnation of every one of 
 his characters, from an emperor down to the rough laborer, from an innocent 
 girl down to the courtesan; whoever has seen him under fire, leading the 
 battle with magnificent strategy to gain it for his soldiers, or has seen him on 
 the stage, giving, unaided, the living, breathing examples of the passions he 
 has unchained, being, by turn, ironical or tearful, cruel or supplicating, tender 
 or implacable — whoever has seen this is seized with the idea that Sardou's 
 work is made after his own image, the dominant tone of which is action. We 
 adduce " Theodora" and " Fedora" in support of our statement. Sardou alone, in 
 all the world, has been able to plant us in the tangible, real, living Bizantium 
 of the ancient empire. Shakespeare, to whom we must always look, when he 
 wished to convey the idea of the Roman people, began his Julius Caesar with a 
 trivial conversation amongst carpenters and cobblers, very truthfully supposing 
 that in all ages humanity has always been identical with itself. Keeping this 
 in view, Sardou in his "Theodora" has breathed life into the nostrils of beings 
 of flesh and blood, and has not given us mere abstractions of purely conven- 
 tional tragedy. And what success, what triumph ! 
 
 Sardou sees, looks for and finds everywhere the type of woman he needs. 
 Until he eclipses himself " Theodora" and " Fedora" must remain the most 
 deeply studied and accurately defined of his creations.
 
 FEDORA. 
 
 Acte Premier. 
 
 Nous nous trouvons, au premier acte, a Saint-Petersbourg, dans le cabinet de 
 travail du Capitaine Yladinn> Yariskine, fils du nouveau prefet de police de Saint- 
 Petersbourg. 
 
 Nous voyons, au lever du rideau, le valet du chambre du Capitaine Vladimir, un 
 francais nomme Desire, tres devoue a son maitre ; il est en conference avec un bijou- 
 tier de Saint-Petersbourg, Maitre Echileff. Celui-ci a entendu parler d'un futur 
 mariage entre le Capitaine Vladimir et une grand dame dont on ne dit pas encore le 
 nom dans les cercles de la haute societe russe; aussi, le bijoutier est-il a jiour attendre 
 le maitre de la maison et lui offrir ses services pour les cadeaux precieux a mettre dans 
 la corbeille de mariage. Mais Vladimir ne rentre pas, et les heures s'ecoulent pen- 
 dant que Desire et Echileff parlent familierement de la fiancee inconnue, de son 
 enorme fortune et de celle, non moins grande, de Vladimir. La conversation s'etend 
 sur tout ce qui se passe en Russie, sur la situation politique, les dangereux exploits 
 des nibilistes et les craintes qu'inspirent au peuple et aux negociants les menaces de 
 ces conspirateurs qui ne reculent devantrien et qui out deja, tout recemment, fait sauter 
 le Czar Alexandre II. 
 
 Vladimir est, d'apres l'avis general, plus menace que quieonque jmisqu'il est le 
 fils du Prefet de Police; mais il est jeune. fort, ricbe et beau, et de taille a se defendre. 
 
 Le bijoutier Echileff, qui craint la concurrence des bijoutiers juifs au sujet des 
 fournitures a faire a Vladimir a l'occasion de son magnifique mariage, essaie de mettre 
 le valet de chambre Desire dans ses interests, en lui offrant des cadeaux personnels. 
 
 Cependant, l'heure continue a marcher, et Desire commence a etre inquiet de 
 l'absence de son maitre, qui avait coutume depuis quelque temps de rentrer de meil- 
 leure heure, quand on annonce la Princesse. 
 
 La Princesse c'est Fedora, Princesse Poinazoff, veuve, fiancee de Vladimir. Pour- 
 quoi vient-elle chez lui a pareille heure ? Desire fait disparaitre le bijoutier et intro- 
 duit Fedora, qui entre avec Dimitri, le groom du capitaine. 
 
 - Oil est Vladimir '? s'ecrie-t-elle. — Car elle aussi est inquiete, tres inquiete. 
 Les bruits politiques sont loin d'etre rassurants; elle attendait son fiance dans sa loge, 
 ■ au theatre, et, ne l'ayant pas vu de toute la soiree, elle n'a pu y tenir et est arcourue 
 pour voir s'il n'avait pas ete victime d'un accident. 
 
 Ni Desire ni Dimitri ne peuvent la renseigner. Le jeune capitaine est scwti, a 
 son heure habituelle, avec quelques amis pour aller diner au restaurant Borrel. De 
 la, il devait aller au Theatre Michel; il a du oublier qu'il avait donne rendez-vous au 
 bijoutier, et il est probable qu'il sera alle a son cercle Fedora, qui se meurt 
 d'angoisse et d'impatience, envoie au cercle; mais on n'y a pas vu le capitaine. . . . 
 
 En attendant, le temps s'ecoule et Ton ne sait plus que penser. Fedora, fremis- 
 sante, ne tarit pas en questions a Desire, s'infortne des inoindres details du depart de 
 Vladimir, envoie chez ses amis, partout; mais personne n'a de nouvelles. 
 
 Enfin, on se met a esperer qu'il est alle, par ordre, chez son pere, le prefet de 
 police, qui est en ce moment hors de Saint-Petersbourg, a Gratchina, aupres de 
 rEmpereur. 
 
 Soudain, un grand bruit retentit, Fedora pousse un cri de joie : c'est la voiture
 
 FEDORA. 
 
 Act First. 
 
 The curtain rises on the study of Captain Vladimir Jariskine, son of the new 
 Prefect of Police at St. Petersburg. The Captains valet, a Frenchman named Desire, 
 devoted to his master, is in conference with a Jeweller of St. Petersburg, Eschileff by 
 name, who, having heard of a future marriage between Captain Vladimir and a lady of 
 the highest social position in Russia, whose name is not yet known, has come to wait 
 for the master of the house in order to offer his services for the manufacture of the 
 costly bridal gifts. But Vladimir does not come in. The time goes by whilst Desire 
 and Eschileff chat familiarly about the unknown fiancee and of her enormous fortune 
 which equals that of Vladimir. The conversation rolls on everything Russian, the 
 political situation, the dangerous exploits of the nihilists, the fear which the menaces 
 of these conspirators inspire in the people and among businessmen, and of the late 
 successful attempt to blow up the Czar, Alexander EL 
 
 Vladimir is, according to general opinion, more in danger than any one else, 
 since he is the son of the Prefect of Police, but he is young, strong, rich and hand- 
 some and perfectly able to take care of himself. 
 
 The Jeweller Eschileff, who fears the competition of the Jews in the furnishing of 
 the marriage presents for Vladimir on the occassion of his sumptuous marriage, tries 
 to win the valet Desire over to his side by offering him presents. 
 
 Time flies, and Desire commences to ba anxious about his masters' continued 
 absence, especially as the latter has taken the habit of late of coming home early when 
 the Princess is announced. 
 
 The Princess is Fedora, Princess Romagoff, a widow and betrothed to Vladimir. 
 But why does she come to see him at such an hour ? 
 
 Desire pushes the jeweller out and shows in Fedora, who enters followed by 
 Dimitri, the captain's groom. 
 
 " Where is Vladimir ? " she cries, — for she too, is anxious, very anxious. The 
 flying political rumors are far from being reassuring. She had been waiting for him 
 all the evening in her box at the opera. He had not come and her anxiety becoming- 
 unbearable, she has hastened to his rooms to see whether he has not become the 
 victim of some accident. 
 
 Neither Desire nor Dimitri are able to reassure her. The young captain had gone 
 out at his usual hour with some of his Mends to dine at Boirel's. Thence he was to go 
 to the opera. He had probably forgotten that he had made an appointment with the 
 jeweller and possibly had gone to his club. Fedora who his trembling with fear and 
 anxiety sends immediately to the club. The captain has not been there — 
 
 An hour passes and an undefined fear grows in every one's heart. Fedora is half 
 mad with anxiety and plies Desire with questions as to the exact time the captain went 
 out, where he was going and what he said ; she sends to all his friends everywhere, 
 but no one has seen Vladimir. Lastly they all commence to hope that he has gone 
 by order of his father, the Prefect of Police, to meet the latter at Gatchina at the 
 Emperor's residence. 
 
 Suddenly a noise is heard. Fedora utters a cry of jov. It is Vladimir's carnage. 
 The terrible presentiments of the evening vanish ! He is coming home ! He is here .'
 
 8 FEDORA. 
 
 de "Vladimir que rentre ! . . . Les pressentiments terribles qu'elle avait depuis le com- 
 mencement de la soiree s'evanouissent ; il rentre enfin, elle va le voir ! 
 
 Helas! Ce n'est pas Vladimir qu'elle voit apparaitre. C'est un officier de police 
 qui fait son entree, suivi de deux de ses agents et d'un gentleman, M. de Siriex, 
 secretaire de l'ambassade de France. 
 
 lis annoncent qu'ils ramenent Vladimir tres dangereusement blesse et qu'ils ont 
 mande des medecins en toute hate, car le cas est grave. Us slnforment de la person- 
 nalite de Fedora et prennent des precautions avant de lui apprendre la fatale verite ; 
 on a transports le blesse dans sa chambre, qui est au fond de la scene, mais on n'en 
 laisse approcher personne. 
 
 Les medecins arrivent ; au milieu des anxietes de Fedora et sous l'oeil de l'officier 
 de police, ils examiuent la blessure, reconnaissent qu'elle provient d'une balle de 
 revolver et declarent la situation extremement grave. lis interdisent a tout le monde 
 l'acces de la chambre, envoient querir leurs trousses et des remedes et s'enferment 
 avec le blesse. 
 
 Restee seule avec les homines de police et les deux serviteurs Desire et Dimitri, 
 Fedora fait commencer l'enquete sur le crime. 
 
 M. de Siriex et le cocher de Vladimir sont d'accord sur leurs declarations, mais 
 ils ne savent pas grand' chose qui puisse eclairer les magistrats. Vladimir s'est fait 
 conduire dans un quartier eloigne et est descendu dans une maison isolee au-miheu 
 de vastes jardins abandonnes, ou se trouvait etabli un tir. On ignore a qui appartient 
 la maison ; elle a ete louee j)ar une femme inconnue, assez agee. A peine Vladimir 
 est-il entre seul dans cette maison, que deux coups de feu se sont fait entendre ; deux 
 coups tenement rapproches que le cocher a meme cru, tout d'abord, qu'il n'y en avait 
 eu qu'un. Au meme instant, un homme, qu'on n'a pas reconnu, est sorti de la 
 maison et a pu disparaitre rapidement en dejouant toutes les poursuites. 
 
 Evidemment, cela ne suffit pas pour faire avancer l'enquete; les preuves manquent, 
 et on en est reduit a des conjectures. Tout ce qui semble etre absolument clair a tout 
 le monde, c'est que le crime a ete commis par les nihilistes, par vengeance politique. 
 
 Mais volla que, tout a coup, un incident nouveau vient jeter un peu de lumiere 
 sur tout ce mystere. Un domestique se rappello qu'une femme agee est venue apporter 
 une letti-e a Vladimir, avant l'heure du diner, et positivement Vladimir a mis cette 
 lettre dans le tiroir de sa table a ecrire. Surement, cette lettre donnait un rendez- 
 vous au capitaine, et ce rendez-vous etait celui du guet a pens ou on l'attendait et ou 
 il a succombe. 
 
 Mais c'est en vain qu'on fouille dans le tiroir, la lettre n'y est plus. 
 
 Comment a-t-elle disparu ? Qui l'a volee ? Certainement le capitaine ne l'a pas 
 reprise : il s'est leve et est sorti en voiture aussitot apres l'avoir jetee dans le tiroir. 
 
 — Toute cette enquete, parfois interrompue paries allees et venues des medecins 
 et de ceux qui les servent, est aussi saisissante que terrible par le naturel emouvant 
 de la mise en scene. — Le capitaine meurt sans pouvoir prononcer une parole, au 
 milieu des pleurs dechirants et du desespoir profond de sa fiancee, des regrets de ses 
 domestiques et de la profonde emotion de tous les assistants, M. de Siriex et les 
 hommes de j)olice. 
 
 On croirait alors qu'il n'y a plus qu'a en rester la et a attendre que la justice suive 
 son cours, en recherchant l'homme qu'on a vu s'enfuir de la petite maison du tir au 
 pistolet et la vieille femme qui a loue cette maison et qui est probablement la meme 
 qui a apporte une lettre au capitaine 
 
 Mais alors, sous de pressantes interrogations du chef de police, un domestique se 
 souvient tout a coup d'un evenement que, dans son trouble, il avait completemeiit
 
 FEDOKA. 9 
 
 Alas ! it is not Vladimir she sees enter. It is a police officer who appears 
 
 followed by two of his subordinates and by a gentleman, M. de Siriex, secretary of the 
 French legation. They announce that they are bringing Vladimir home dangerously 
 wounded, and that they have sent in all haste for the fLst physicians in the city, as the 
 case is serious. They inquire as to who Fedora is, and take great precautions in 
 breaking the terrible news to her. They have transported the wounded man to his 
 room which is at centre of stage back, but no one is allowed to approach. 
 
 The doctors arrive, in the midst of great excitement on Fedora's pa* t, and under 
 the supervision of the officer the wound is examined and is recognized as being the 
 result of a pistol shot. The situation is declared serious. The doctors shut everybody 
 oat of the room, send for their instruments and medicine and lock themselves in with 
 the patient. 
 
 Left alone with the policemen, Desire and Dimitri, Fedora forces them to begin 
 an inquiry into the crime. 
 
 M. de Siriex and Vladimir's coachman agree in declaring that they know little 
 to enlighten justice. Vladimir had ordered himself driven to a far off quarter and 
 had alighted before the door of a house surrounded by vast but deserted gardens 
 wherein was situated a shooting-gallery. They neither of them know to whom the 
 house belongs. It is let by an unknown woman past middle age. Hardly had 
 Vladimir gone into this house, alone, when two shots were heard, so near together 
 that the coachman first thought that there was but one. At the same instant a man 
 who was not recognized left the house hurriedly and had been able to baffle all 
 pursuit. 
 
 Evidently, this is not enough to help along the search. Proof is wanting and 
 they are reduced to conjectures. What seems, how r ever, perfectly clear to every one 
 is, that the crime was committed by the nihilists for political revenge. 
 
 But suddenly an incident happens which throws some light on all this mystery. 
 One of the servants remembers that a woman past middle age came to bring a letter 
 for Vladimir- before dinner and that Vladimir positively put this letter in the drawer 
 of his study-table. This letter must certainly have appointed a meeting-place and 
 this rendez-vous proved to be the ambush where he met his death. 
 
 In vain they search the drawer. The letter is not there. 
 
 How has it disappeared? Who has stolen it? Certainly the captain did not take 
 it out of the drawer again. He rose from his chair, went out and was driven away in 
 his carriage immediately after having thrown it into the drawer. 
 
 All this inquiry, occasionally interrupted by the coming and going of the doctors 
 and their assistants, is as striking as it is terrible on account of the natural emotion 
 of all concern. 
 
 The captain dies without being able to speak a word in the midst of sobs, and the 
 heart-rending despair of his fiancee, the regret of his servants and the jirofound 
 emotion of all jn'esent including M. de Siriex and the police. 
 
 It was thought that the affair would have to stop here, to allow justice to follow 
 its course by hunting out the man who escaped through the shooting-gallery and the 
 woman who had hired the house and who was probably the person who had brought 
 the letter to the captain. 
 
 But under the close questioning of the chief of police a servant suddenly remem- 
 bers an event which, in his excitement, he had completely forgotten. He tells how, 
 after the departure of hi, master, a young man called and asked for Vladiinir; that he 
 went into the study and, saying that he was on9 of Vladimir's friends, was about to 
 leave him a note, that he approached the writing table, but suddenly changed hia
 
 10 FEDORA. 
 
 oublie. II raconte que, apres le depart tie son ruaitre, un jeune homme s'est presente 
 pour lui parler; qu'il est entre dans ce cabinet de travail et que, affirmant etre l'arni 
 de Wladimir, il a desire lui laisser un mot d'ecrit ; q'uil s'est approcbe de la table u- 
 ecrire, mais qu'il s'est aussitot ravise en disant: "Bon! c'est inutile ; je lui dirai rnoi- 
 raenie de vive voix ce qui m'ameriait." Et il est alors reparti. — Surement, cet in= 
 connu est le voleur de la lettre de la vieille femme. 
 
 Mais quel est cet inconnu? — Le jeune domestique, presse de questions, se rap- 
 pelle l'avoir deja vu une fois, mais il ne se souvient pas de son nom. 
 
 Tout le monde se met alors a l'aider dans ses souvenirs, et, chacun lui disant les 
 divers norns des bommes qui ont pu, depuis quelque temps, se presenter a l'bctel de 
 "Wladimir, il finit par declarer que ce visiteur de la nuit s'appelle Loris Ipanoff. 
 
 Loris Ipanoff! — Mais c'est un jeune seigneur extremement ricbe, dont per. 
 sonne n'a jamais rien clit. II est vrai que le vol n'a pas ete le mobile de l'assassinat, 
 mais il peut y avoir mille autres raisons. II ne connait pas la Princesse Fedora, la 
 fiancee de Vladimir, ce n'est done pas non plus une vengeance d'amoureux ; mais 
 enfin, il n'y a pas de doutes a avoir. C'est lui qui a vole la lettre, c'est lui qui a tue 
 l'infortune capitaine. 
 
 Loris Ipanoff n'etait pas l'ami de Vladimir ; ils ne vivaient pas dans le meme 
 monde, ils ne frequentaient pas la meme societe. Vladiniir etait un viveur, un gentil- 
 homme de bruit et de tapage, tandisque Loris Ipanoff passe pour etre un jeune 
 seigneur sage, serieux et travailleur ; mais qu'importe ? C'est meme une raison, une 
 preuve de plus. Loris Ipanoff est un nihiliste; il a servi d'instrument a ces conspira- 
 teurs qui essaient sans cesse de soulever la Russie. II est tres ricbe, mais les nibilistes 
 comptent dans leurs rangs de grands noms et de grandes fortunes. D'apres une 
 pbrase celebre, citee d'ailleurs dans la premiere scene de cet acte entre Desire et 
 Ecbileff : " H y a des nibilistes meme a la table du Czar." 
 
 On se souvient aussi, a ce moment, d'une lettre adretsee il y a buit jours a Ma- 
 dimir, dont le pere venait d'etre nomine prefet de police et se signalait deja par des 
 mesures de rigueur. Cette lettre, comme le dit Desire, etait ainsi concue: "Si votre 
 pere continue a nous persecuter de la sorte, il prepare pour vous une mort violente." 
 
 Plus de doute ! Le crime est l'ceuvre des nibilistes ; Loris Ipanoff est nibiliste, 
 et c'est lui qui est l'assassin du capitaine. 
 
 Fedora, dont la mort de son fiance, loin d'abattre son courage, a surexcite auplus 
 haut point le desespoir amoareux et le dtsir acbarne de vengeance, bonlit de colere 
 et de joie en pensant que le crime ne va pas rester impuni ; elle fait passer dans 
 l'ame de tous ceux qui l'entourent sa fievre et son indignation, et c'est a qui, sous son 
 inspiration, ira le premier arreter le criminel. 
 
 Loris Ipanoff babite precisement en face de la maison de Vladimir, an second 
 etage; on y court, tandis que quelques-uns retiennent Fedora qui voudrait aller l'ar- 
 reter elle-meme et }3eut-etre se venger de ses propres mains. 
 
 Anxieuse, regardant a la fenetre qui donne sur eelles de Loris, elle attend ! . . 
 
 Mais les bommes de police ne trouvent pas Loris cbez lui ; il vient de s'ecbapper 
 .... II avait done pre-vu son arrestation ... C'etait done bien lui l'assassin ! Et Fe- 
 dora, desesperee, folle, ne se connaissant plus, va se jeter au cou de Vladimir, embras- 
 sant avec fureur son cadavre et s'abimant dans son immense douleur. 
 
 RlDEAU.
 
 FEDORA. 11 
 
 mind saying: "After all, it is hardly necessary, I will tell him myself what brought 
 me." He then left. This unknown individual was certainly the thief of the letter 
 that the old woman had brought. Who wa.s this young man ? The servant, plyed 
 with questions, remembers having seen him once before, but does not remember 
 his name. 
 
 Each one suggests every name he cau think of and in his way all the names are 
 passed in review of the men who are in the habit of calling at Vladimir's residence. 
 The servant finally declares that the visitor in question is Loris Ipanoff. 
 
 Loris Ipanoff! Can this be? The gentleman in question is a nobleman extremely 
 rich, of whom no one has ever breathed anything wrong. It is true that theft was not 
 the motive of the assassination, but there might have been a thousand other motives. 
 He does not know the Princess Fedora, Vladimir's fiancee; therefore jealousy is not 
 the cause, biit the deduction is irresistable : he stole the letter, he must have shot the 
 unfortunate captain. 
 
 Loris Ipanoff was not an intimate friend of Vladimir's ; they did not live in the 
 same world, nor did they frequent the same society. Vladimir was a man about town, 
 a high liver and rather astentatious in his habits, whilst Loris Ipanoff was known as a 
 young man of serious disposition and as a hard worker in literary pursuits. But what 
 does this matter? It is even a further proof. Loris Ipanoff is a nihilist; he has served 
 as a tool in the hands of those conspirators who are ceaselessly trying to exite revolt 
 in Russia. He is very rich, but the nihilists count in their ranks both great names and 
 greath fortunes. According to the notable sentence cited in the first scene between 
 Desire and Eschileff : " There are nihilists even at the table of the Czar ! " 
 
 It was remembered by several present that a week before Vladimir, whose father 
 had just been appointed Prefect of Police, had received a letter referring to the strict 
 measures adopted by the police. This letter, as Desire testified, ran as follows: "If 
 your father continues persecution of this description he will prepare for you a violent 
 death ! " Not an atom of doubt ! The crime is the work of nihilists : Loris Ipanoff is 
 a nihilist. He is without doubt the assassin. 
 
 Fedora whom the death of her lover has not only not discouraged, but in whom 
 despair has lighted a passionate desire for revenge, first thrills with hatred, then starts 
 with joy to think that at least this great crime will not go unpunished. 
 
 Her feverish indignation is communicated to all present, and each one is more 
 eager than his neighbor to be the first to cause the arrest of the criminal. 
 
 Loris Ipanoff lives exactly opposite Vladimir's residence and occupies the whole 
 second floor of the house. All make a dash acrose the street, except a few who 
 restrain Fedora, who asks nothing better than to make the arrest herself and perhaps 
 avenge her lover wirth her own hands. 
 
 Anxious, breathless, she gazes out of the window, which faces Loris' apartments 
 and awaits the result 
 
 The police find that Loris is not at home ; he has fled ! . . . . He f orsaw then his 
 arrest. It is he ! He is the assassin ! 
 
 And Fedora, mad with despair, no larger able to restain herself, throws herself on 
 Vladimir's body, kisses his cold face and faints. 
 
 Curtain.
 
 12 FEDOBA. 
 
 Acte Deuxikmk. 
 
 L'action se passe maintenant a Paris, fort peu de temps apres ces terribles evene- 
 ments qui ont fait tant de sensation a Saint-Petersbourg. La Eussie est toujours 
 dans la menie situation ; en proie aux machinations des nihilistes et surtout a la ter- 
 reur qu'elles lui inspirent, le gouvernement du Czar se voit force, pour essayer d'assu- 
 rer la securite de son Empire trop vaste, d'envoyer et d'entretenir partout des espions 
 qui le renseignent et qui, au besoin, se font les instruments des vengeances privees, 
 sans reculer devant des actes que ne permet la justice d'aucun pays. Pour les delits 
 et meme les crimes politiques, toutes les nations accordent le droit d'asile aux etran- 
 gers ; aussi, les sicaires de la police russe sont-ils forces quelquefois, en France, en 
 Suisse, en Allemagne, de recourir au rapt, a l'enlevement, meme a l'assassinat des 
 nihi!istes, contre lesquels aucun pays civilise n'accorderait l'extradition. 
 
 Cette courte explication est necessaire avant d'aller plus loin dans l'expose de 
 cette piece, qui est le chef d'ceuvre de Sardou dans le genre du drame moderne. 
 
 C'est, en effet, chez une nihiliste que nous nous trouvons, a cette heure, a Paris. 
 Une nihiliste ardente et convaincue, cette Comtesse Olga Soukaroff qui a une immense 
 fortune, qui possede un hotel luxueux a Paris, et qui y reyoit tous les Busses rebelles 
 ou mecontents, tous les condamnes, les echappes des mines et des bagnes de Siberie, 
 en un mot tous les hommes politiques vaincus qui revent 1'affranchissement de leurs 
 concitoyens et la liberte de leur patrie. 
 
 Au lever du rideau, nous nous trouvons done chez la Comtesse Olga Soukaroff, et 
 nous y retrouvons Bouvel et l'ancien attache de l'ambassade de France a Saint-Peters- 
 bourg, M. de Siriex. 
 
 Siriex raconte qu'il a quitte son poste pour rentrer a Paris comme Secretaire du 
 Ministre des Affaires etraDgeres. Depuis trois mois qu'il a quitte la Eussie, il est 
 sans nouvelles ni renseignements, et il en demande. Eouvel lui repond, et la conver- 
 sation tombe sur la Comtesse Olga Soukaroff, sur ce qu'elle fait et sur le monde 
 qu'elle recoit. 
 
 La comtesse passe pour etre une blasee, qui recherche dans l'excentricite et la 
 politique des plaisirs et des sensations qu'elle ne trouvait pas ailleurs. En ce 
 moment, elle est notamment occupee de lancer et de presenter aux Parisiens un 
 jeune pianiste de genie, un nihiliste. Elle se prend au serieux comme femme poli- 
 tique, mais ce ne peut etre bien reel, d'apres ce que dit Eouvel. C'est une femme 
 eharrnante, un peu toquee, ct voila tout. Pour le moment, sa maison est tres agre- 
 able, elle recoit brillamment tous les mercredis, et sa j>assion actuelle est le pianiste 
 en question, le maiheureux proscrit Boleslas Lasinski, nihiliste et polonais. 
 
 Quand la Comtesse Olga entre en scene, elle se rejouit de reToir sa vieille et 
 bonne connaissance M. de Siriex, et la conversation devient tout d'abord plus inte- 
 ressante, puisque Ton va y apprendre des nouvelles de Fedora, aussitot apres 
 qu'Olga aura fait la presentation et le magnifique panegyrique de son pianiste adore. 
 
 Loris Ipanoff, qtii se trouve a Paris et qui est le cousin de la Comtesse Olga, 
 ne manque aucune des receptions de son aimable cousine. B s'y trouve done, ce 
 soir-L"i. A son nom, M. de Siriex s'etonne et demande si c'est bien le Loris Ipanoff 
 qui a ete accuse du meurtre commis a Saint-Petersbourg sur le fiance de Fedort.
 
 FEEORA. 13 
 
 Act Second. 
 
 The scene is now changed to Paris, a short time after the terrible events which 
 have made such a sensation at St. Petersburg - . Russia is still a prey to the machina- 
 tions of the nihilists, and especially to the terror which they inspire. The Czar's 
 government, trying to insure the security of this most unwieldy empire sees itself forced 
 to send out and support everywhere, spies, who keep it posted and who, in case of 
 need, become the instruments of private revenge, and who do not hesitate to commit 
 acts contrary to the law of any country. For political misdemeanors and even crimes, 
 all nations accord a right of asylum to foreigners; therefore the Russian agents are 
 sometimes forced in France, Switzerland and Germany to have recourse to abduction, 
 to secret seizure and even to the assassination of nihilists, as no civilized country 
 would accede to a demand for their extradition. 
 
 This short explanation is necessary before going further into the plot of this play 
 which is Sardou's master-piece in the style of the modern drarua. 
 
 It is in fact at the bouse of a nihilist in Paris that the scene is now laid. The 
 Countess Olga Soukaroff is an ardent and sincere nihilist who has an immense fortune, 
 possesses a luxuriant residence in Paris, and who receives therein all the Russian 
 rebels and malcontents, all convicts escaped from the mines and prisons of Siberia — 
 in a word, all the political schemers who dream of enfranchisement of their fellow- 
 citizens and the liberty of their country. 
 
 The rising of the curtain discloses the Countess Olga's apartments, M. Rouvel 
 and the former attache of the French Legation at St. Petersburg, M. de Siriex. Siriex 
 tells how he has left his former post to return to Paris as secretary to the Minister of 
 Foreign Affairs. 
 
 During the three months that have passed since he left Russia he is without news 
 or information of any sort and he questions Rorwel closely. The conversation turns 
 on the Countess Olga Soukaroff, on what she is doing and the people she receives. The 
 Countess passes for a woman of the world worn out with its pleasures, who seeks in 
 eccentricities of all sorts and in politics the pleasures and sensations that she would 
 not find otherwise. At the present moment she is notably occupied in introducing 
 to the Parisians a young pianist of genius, a nihilist and a Pole. She really believes 
 herself to be a factor in jDolitics but she is not very redoubtable Rouvel tells him. 
 She is a charming woman, a little odd and that is all. For the rest, the house is a 
 very agreeable one, she receives brilliantly every Wednesday and her passion is for 
 the present the poor, proscribed pianist. 
 
 Boleslas Lasinski, nihilist and a Pole. 
 
 The Countess enters and is happy to see again her old and good Mend M. de 
 Siriex, and after having introduced and eulogized her favorite pianist, the conversation 
 turns on Fedora. 
 
 Loris Ipanoff, who is in Paris and who is cousin of the Countess Olga, never misses 
 a single reception of his charming cousin. He therefore is here this evening. 
 
 At the mention of his name, M. de Siriex in astonishment asks if it is possible 
 that it is the same Loris Ipanoff who has been accused of the murder of Fedora's fiancee 
 at St. Petersburg.
 
 14 FEDORA. 
 
 Mais personne ne sait ce que veut dire Siriex, et c'est avec un ensemble complet 
 qu'Olga, Rouvel et autres lui disent que Loris Ipanoff est le plus charmant homme 
 qu'il y ait au monde. 
 
 La Comtesse Olga raconte alors une cliarmante excursion qu'elle a faite, la veille, 
 sur la Seine, de Paris a Maisons-Laffitte, sur le yacht do la Princesse Fedora. 
 
 On dit a Siriex que, en effet, la Princesse Fedora est a Paris, qu'elle a quitte 
 Saint Petersbourg depuis deux mois, et Loris confirme cette nouvelle. Siriex tombe 
 d'etonnements en etonnements en voyant que Loris parle de Fedora aussi tranquille- 
 ment que si rien ne s'etait passe, et en apprenant que Fedora se trouve en France par 
 ordre du gouvernement russe avec lequel elle est au plus mal. 
 
 La stupefaction de Siriex redouble en apprenant que Loris faisait partie de 1' ex- 
 cursion de la veille, sur le yacht de Fedora, et que cette derniere n'a jamais parle a 
 son amie Olga du malheur qui lui etait si recemment arrive en Russie, la mort de son 
 fiance. II est vrai que rien n'est etonnant dans la conduite mysterieuse d'une femme 
 comme Fedora, car elle descend en droite ligue des Cantacuzene, ces terribles empe- 
 reurs d'orient qui regnerent si longtemps a Constantinople. Elle porte meme a son 
 doigt leur anneau imperial, et elle a parfois la cruaute de ses ancetres ; la veille encore, 
 pendant 1'excursion sur la Seine a bord de son yacht, elle a fait jeter a l'eau un matelot 
 qui lui avait desobei. 
 
 Siriex, pour avoir le coeur net de tout ce mystere qui l'environne, critique un peu 
 Fedora et sa conduite, met en doute la sincerite de ses actes et nie qu'elle soit une 
 nihiliste expulsee de Russie. Loris defend chaudement Fedora et ne parait nullement 
 emu quand Siriex, a bout d'arguments, met enfin la conversation sur l'assassinat de 
 Vladimir Yariskine. 
 
 Siriex s'avoue que toute sa diplomatic est battue par l'habilete des gens qui 
 l'entourent, et il se promet d'essayer enfin de savoir la verite aupres de la Princesse 
 Fedora elle-meme, dont on annonce la prochaine arrivee a la soirte d'Olga. 
 
 Apres quelques theories de cette derniere sur le charme qu'il y a a aimer un con- 
 spirateur, un criminel pohtique, comme Test son juaniste Boleslas, en se disant 
 toujours q'une tete si chere peut tomber le lendemain, la Princesse Fedora fait son 
 entree dans les salons de la Comtesse. 
 
 Des qu'elle peut se debarrasser les autres personnages, Fedora se trouve seule 
 avec Siriex. 
 
 Elle lui confesse qu'elle poursuit toujours sa vengeance, qu'elle n'est a Paris que 
 dans ce but, qu'elle a des hommes de la police russe a ses ordres, et qu'elle est tou- 
 jours convaincue que c'est Loris qui a tue Vladimir. II ne le lui a pas dit, cependant; 
 mais tout le fait supposer. Quant a elle, elle n'a rien dit : c'est en n'eveillant aucun 
 soupcon sur ses intentions qu'elle pourra arriver a venger son fiance. Leurs projets 
 de mariage n'etaient pas encore publics ; aussi, quand, apres son crime, Loris a reussi 
 a quitter la Russie sans delai en depistant toutes les poursuites, il ne savait rien con- 
 cernant Fedora et Vladimir ; rien done ne devait lui faire prendre garde a elle. Us 
 ont ainsi pu faire connaissance, et leur intimite a promptement marche. 
 
 C'est a ce point que Loris est devenu profondement amoureux de Fedora, qu'il 
 croit proscrite et persecutee comme lui-meme. II est tres riche, elle aussi ; par con- 
 sequent il est sincere. Fedora n'attend plus qu'une occasion tres prochaine pour pro- 
 filer de cet amour et lui faire confesser son crime. S'il ne l'a pas commis, elle le 
 quittera et l'oubliera pour aller sur une autre piste, car elle ne saurait jamais renoncer 
 a venger Vladimir. S'il est coupable, elle le livrera sans pitie. 
 
 Mais le temps et le charme de Loris ont deja commence leur ceuvre; Fedora se 
 plait parfois a douter de la culpabilite de ce jeune homme, quoiqu'elle soit pour elle
 
 FEDORA. 15 
 
 But nobody knows what M. de Siriex refers to and it is the universal opinion, 
 expressed by Olga, Rouvel and the others that Loris Ipanoff is the most charming 
 man in the world. 
 
 The Countess Olga then tell of a charming excursion she has made the day before 
 on the Seine from Paris to Maisons Lafitte upon Fedora's yacht. In fact they tell 
 Siriex that Fedora has left St. Petersburg two months before and Loris confirms this 
 news. Siriex is more and more astonished healing Loris speak of Fedora as quietly 
 as if nothing had occurred, and on learning that Fedora is in Paris by the order of 
 the Russian Gouvernment with which she is on bad terms. 
 
 The stupe faction of Siriex is redoubled, however, when he learns that Loris has 
 been one of the party of the day before on Fedora's yacht, and that the latter has 
 never spoken to her friend Olga of the sorrow that has so lately befallen her in Russia, 
 the death of her fiancee. 
 
 It is true that there is nothing astonishing in the mysterious conduct of a woman 
 like Fedora, for she is a direct descend ent of the Cautacuzenes, those terrible emperors 
 of the Orient who reigned so long at Constantinople. She even wears on her finger 
 their imperial ring and she has sometimes the barbarity of her ancestors. During the 
 excursion on the Seine the day before, while on her yacht, she had had a sailor 
 thrown overboard for having disobeyed her. 
 
 Siriex, to get at the bottom of all this mystery, criticises Fedora and her conduct, 
 throws doubt upon the sincerity of her acts and denies that she can be a nihilist 
 expelled from Russia. Loris warmly defends Fedora and does not seem in the least 
 moved, when for want of an argument Siriex finally turns the conversation upon the 
 assassination of Vladimir Yariskine. 
 
 Sh\ex acknowledges to himself that all his diplomacy is set at naught by the skill 
 of those around him, and he promises himself to get the truth of the matter from the 
 Princess Fedora herself whose a: rival is momentarily expected. 
 
 Several theories are put forward by the Countess Olga concerning the peculiar 
 charm that lies in loving a conspirator, a political criminal like her dear pianist 
 Boleslas, in being convinced of his hourly peril and in knowing that to-morrow may 
 bring about his death. Thereupon Fedora enters. 
 
 As soon as she can rid herself of the rest of the party, Fedora finds herself alone 
 with Siriex. 
 
 She confesses to him that she is still following out her vengeance, that she is in 
 Paris only for this end, that she has Russian police agents at her command and that 
 she is thoroughly convinced that it is Loris who killed Vladimir. He has not acknow- 
 edged it, however, but everything makes her suppose it. As for herself, she has said 
 nothing. It is only by lulling to sleep every suspicion of her intentions that she can 
 expect to succeed in avenging her fiancee. Their intended marriage had not been 
 made public and when, after his crime, Loris had succeeded in immediately leaving 
 Russia, foiling all pursuit, he knew nothing concerning Fedora and Vladimir, there 
 was nothing therefore to put him on his guard against her. They had therefore been 
 able to make each others acquaintance, and intimacy had thriven apace. 
 
 Loris now falls deeply in love with Fedora, whom he imagines exiled and perse- 
 cuted like himself. He is very rich, as well as she, consequently he is sincere. 
 
 Fedora only waits for an occasion, in order to take advantage of this love and 
 make him confess his crime. If he has not committed it, she will leave him and forget 
 him to follow up another clue, for she will never renounce the avenging of Vladimir. 
 If he is guilty she will inexorably give him up to justice. 
 
 But time and the charm of Loris have already begun their work ; Fedora from
 
 16 FEDORA. 
 
 bien averee, et elle avoue sincerement a Siriex qu'elle prefererait trouver Loria 
 innocent ! 
 
 Apres cette scene, ecrite et pensee de main demaitre par le grand auteur francais, 
 comme elle est si incomparablement rendue par l'illustre actrice qui l'a creee, Loris 
 rentre et se trouve enfin, dans les salons d'Olga, en tete-a-tete avec la Princesse Fe- 
 dora. 
 
 Cet entretien, une des plus eniouvantes pages du theatre contemporain, arrive 
 aux plus hauts degres qu'aient jamais pu atteiudre l'emotion et l'interet dramatique. 
 
 Fedora dit a Loris qu'elle ne l'attendait par ce soir-la, et elle se laisse aller a lui 
 parler d'amour et a lui permettre de lui en parler aussi. Tantot sincere et passionnee 
 dans ce qu'elle dit elle-meme, tantot reagissant contre sa secrete sympathie et teudant 
 des pieges a son amoureus, elle fiuit par croire a son innocence et elle lui annonce 
 qu'elle va repartir pour la Russie cles le lendemain, car elle a 1x911 du Czar sa grace 
 pleine et entiere. 
 
 — Venez avec moi ? lui dit-elle ; le Czar vous pardonnera aussi. — Vous n'avez pas 
 du commettre de grands crimes ; j'intercederai pour vous. 
 
 Mais Loris ne peut pas, ne veut pas. II sait qu'on ne lui accordera pas sa grace, 
 car on l'accuse d'avoir assassine le fils du prefet de police, Vladimir Yariskine. Son 
 pere est tres vindicatif et ne croira jamais a son innocence. 
 
 — Mais vous la prouverez, nous la prouverons, s'ecrie Fedora. 
 
 — Et si je ne puis pas la prouver'2 
 
 — Comment? 
 
 — Fedora, m'aimez-vous? 
 
 — Eh bien oui, je vous aime ! 
 
 — Vous m'aimez? . . . Vous? . . . Eh bien, alors, je puis tout vous dire . . . C'est 
 moi qui ai tue Vladimir ! 
 
 A cette epouvan table revelation, Fedora, sa ressouvenant de ses serments et de la 
 mission qu'elle s'est imposee, ne pense plus soudain qu'a venger son fiance . . . Mais 
 comment faire? Livrer Loris aux agents du Czar; mais de quelle maniere? . . . Ce 
 n'est que par l'amour qu'elle peut attirer le meurtrier dans un guet a, pens . . . Aussi, 
 ne veut-elle pas ici entendre la justification, les explications de Loris ; il les lui promet 
 pour le lendemain, mais elle les veut plus tot ; il lui faut la vengeance immediate, le 
 lendemain est trop eloigne pour elle. 
 
 Elle l'attendra, cette nuit meme, chez elle ; elle lui donne les moyens de 
 penetrer dans sa maison . . . Puisqu'elle l'aime, qu'a-t-il a craindre ? Qu'il ne s'arrete 
 ni devant les dangers qu'il peut courir, ni devant le respect qu'il lui doit; elle l'aime! 
 Pourrait-il hesiter ? 
 
 Devant d'aussi brulantes paroles, Loris n'hesite point, en effet. II ira, cette nuit 
 meme, chez Fedora . . . 
 
 Et Fedora sera vengee ! . . . 
 
 RJDEA.B.
 
 FEDORA. 17 
 
 time to time allows herself to doubt his culpability, notwithstanding that it is very 
 plain to her, and sincerely admits to Siriex that she would prefer to find Loris inno- 
 cent ! 
 
 After this masterly scene, written and thought out by the great French author, 
 and as it has been incomparably given by the illustrious actress who created the title 
 role, Loris comes back and finds himself tcte-a-tete with the Princess Fedora. 
 
 This interview is one of the most moving pages of the contemporaneous stage, 
 and raises to the highest degree the dramatic interest and emotion of the spectator. 
 
 Fedora tells Loris that she did not expect to see him this evening and allows him 
 to speak to her of love and permits herself to speak of love to him. 
 
 First, sincere and j)assionate in what she says herself, and again striving against 
 her secret sympathy for him, she lays pitfall for her lover and finally ends by believing 
 in his innocence, and tells him that she is about to leave for Russia to-morrow as she 
 has received from the Czar a full and complete pardon. " Come with me ! " she says, 
 " the Czar will pardon you also ; you certainly have committed no great crime. I will 
 intercede for you." 
 
 But Loris cannot go, nor does he wish to. He knows that he will not be par- 
 doned, because they accuse him of having assassinated Vladimir, the son of the Pre- 
 fect of Police. The latter is very vindictive and would never believe in his inno- 
 cence. 
 
 " But you will prove it, we will prove it together ! " cries Fedora. 
 
 " And if I cannot prove it ? " 
 
 " What ! " 
 
 "Fedora, do you love me?" 
 
 "Yes! I love you! " 
 
 " You love me ? You ? . . . Well, then I can tell you everything ... It is I who 
 killed Vladimir ! " 
 
 At this frightful revelation, Fedora remembers her vows and the mission she has 
 given herself to fulfill. She returns to her ideas of revenge. 
 
 She will of course give up Loris to the agents of the Czar . . . But how ? ... It is 
 only by love that she can draw the murderer into a trap. Neither does she wish to 
 listen now to the explanations of Loris ; he promises ihem to her on the morrow. 
 She must have them sooner, she must have immediate revenge. To-morrow is too 
 far off. She will expect him this very night at her house ; she gives him a key . . . 
 Since she loves him what has he to fear? He must not be deterred by the danger he 
 may run nor by the respect which he owes her. She loves him! Why hesitate? 
 
 Before these burning words, Loris succumbs. He will go this very nigkt. 
 
 He will meet her. 
 
 And Fedora will be avenged ! 
 
 Curt Am
 
 18 FEDOKA. 
 
 Acte Troisieme. 
 
 Apres la soiree chez la comtesse Olga, Taction se passe chez Fedora, au bord de la 
 Seine, dans son hotel sur le quai, en face duquel se trouve amarre son yacht de plai- 
 sance dont il a deja ete question dans l'acte precedent. 
 
 Fedora, fievreuse et triomphante a la fois, sent qu'elle tient enfin sa vengeance; 
 elle ne la laissera pas echapper. Elle donne des ordres a ses domestiques et fait venir 
 en toute bate l'officier de la police russe que Ton a mis a sa disposition, ce meme 
 Gretch qui a mene, au premier acte, l'enquete sur l'assassinat de Vladimir. 
 
 En attendant Gretch, Fedora recoit M. de Siriex, qui lui avait promis de passer 
 avant de rentrer chez lui, pour savoir des nouvelles sur ce qu'elle a pu apprendre de 
 la culpabilite de Loris. 
 
 Fedora lui annonce qu'elle a tout appris, puisque Loris lui a tout avoue. Elle 
 n'en a pas encore les details, mais elle va les avoir. C'est evidemment comme 
 nihiliste que Loris a tue le fils du Prefet de Police, car il a prononce devant elle le 
 mot de chatiment. 
 
 Depuis quelque temps, le gouvernement russe demande au gouvernement fraucais 
 l'extradition de Loris, mais sans pouvoir l'obtenir ; Fedora supplie M. de Siriex de 
 s'eniployer a la faire accorder, et elle s'etonne des raisons que lui donne le Secretaire 
 du Ministre pour lui faire comprendre qu'aucune nation civilisee ne s'abaisserait au 
 point de livrer un condamne politique. 
 
 Fedora agira done seule. II est fort tard, personne ne se promene a cette heure sur 
 les quais ; ses hommes de police saisiront Loris, le baillonneront, le jetteront au fond 
 du yacht qui est en face, sur la Seine, et Fedora le conduira elle-meme dans la mer 
 de la Manche,. ou elle le livrera, pieds et poiugs lies, a un vaisseau de guerre russe qui 
 y est precisement en station. 
 
 C'est ce qu'elle explique tout au long au policier Gretch, des que Siriex est sorti. 
 Ou va laisser entrer Loris sans qu'il se doute de rien, mais on se jettera sur lui et on 
 l'enlevera aussitot qu'il quittera la maison. 
 
 Gretch, de son cote, donne a. Fedora les nouvelles de ce que lui et ses espions ont 
 decouvert dans la journee. Comme Loris s'est apercu qu'on lui derobait ou qu'on 
 decachetait avant lui toutes les lettres qui lui etaient adres&ees de Russie, c'est main- 
 tenant par des personnes venant directement de Saint-Petersbourg qu'il les recoit. 
 Le jour meme, il en a recu une de son frere Valerien Ipanoff, capitaine dans la gard« 
 du Czar. 
 
 Plus de doutes, le frere est aussi un nihiliste. Fedora prend la plume et ecrit au 
 Prefet de Police qu'elle tient enfin Loris, qu'elle va le lui envoyer vivant, que son 
 frere Valerien est son complice, et que, par consequent, Vladimir va etre venge par 
 son pere et par sa fiancee. 
 
 Fedora fait mettre cette lettre a la poste et, ordonnant a ses gens d'aller dormir 
 et aux agents de police de suivre ses instructions formelles, elle reste seule pour 
 attendre Loris. 
 
 Elle va pouvoir savourer a. son aise sa vengeance. 
 
 Loris se presente ; comme toujours, il dit qu'il a ete suivi par des espions ; Fe- 
 dora le rassure ; en somme, pourquoi done s'est-il fait nihiliste?
 
 FEDORA. 19 
 
 Act Third. 
 
 After the Countess Olga's soiree the scene is changed to Fedora's residence on 
 the banks of the Seine, opposite which rides at anchor the pretty little steam-yacht 
 mentioned in the last act. 
 
 Fedora, feverish but triumphant, feels that she at last is about to reap her 
 revenge. She will not let it escape ! She gives orders to the servants and sends in 
 haste for the Russian detective that the home government has placed at her disposal. 
 It is the same Gretch who in the first act held the judicial inquiry upon the assassina- 
 tion of Vladimir. 
 
 While Fedora is waiting for the arrival of Gretch, M. de Siriex is announced and 
 received by the mistress of the house. He had promised to call before going home 
 and hear what she had discovered concerning the guilt of Loris. 
 
 Fedora tells him that she knows all, since Loris has confessed his crime to her. 
 She has not yet heard all the details, but she is about to hear them. It is evidentlv as 
 a nihilist that Loris did the foul deed, because he pronounced before her the word 
 " retribution." 
 
 The Russian government has for some time been demanding the extradition of 
 Loris Ipanoff from France, but without avail. Fedora begs M. de Siriex to use his 
 influence to obtain it, and can not understand the reasons the Secretary of the 
 Embassy gives in order to make her see that no civilized nation would stoop so low 
 as to give up a man condemned for political reasons. 
 
 Fedora resolves in this case to act alone. It is very late and no one passes along 
 the deserted streets. Her scheme is to have Loris seized by the detectives and his 
 cries smothered with a cloak. He is then to be carried on board of her steam-yacht, 
 which lies all prepared for the occasion; the yacht is then to steam immediately out to 
 sea and shape its course for the English Channel, where a Russian man-of-war will be 
 all ready to receive the prisoner. This is what she explains in detail to Gretch when 
 M. de Siriex has taken his leave. Loris is to be allowed to enter the house, but is to 
 be seized and jjinioned the moment he leaves. 
 
 Gretch on his side gives Fedora an account of his labors during the day, and 
 tells her what his spies have discovered. 
 
 As Loris has perceived that all the letters addressed to him from Russia are 
 either stolen or read before their delivery, he now only receives direct communications 
 from St. Petersburg through the hands of personal Mends. This day he has received 
 one from his brother, Valerian Ipanoff, captain of the Czar's body guard. 
 
 This settles another important question. The brother is also a nihilist. Fedora 
 takes her pen and writes to the Prefect of Police at St. Petersburg that she at last 
 holds Loris, that she will send him back to Russia alive, that his brother Valerian is 
 his accomplice, and consequently Vladimir will at last be avenged by the hands of his 
 father and by his fiancee. 
 
 Fedora sends this letter to be mailed, then orders the servants to bed and 
 instructing the detectives to follow her commands to the letter, she is left alone and 
 waits impatiently for Loris. She is at last able to count upon her revenue ! . . . 
 Loris at last appears. As usual, he complains of having been followed by spies.
 
 20 FEDORA. 
 
 A ces mots, Loris s'etonne; il n'est pas nihiliste, il ne l'a jamais ete, il ne s'occupe 
 pas cle politique. 
 
 — Mais, dit Fedora incredule, pourquoi avez-vous tue Vladimir Yariskine? 
 
 — Ce n'est pas comme nihiliste, s'ecrie Loris ; c'est parce qu'il m'avait pris ma 
 femme ! 
 
 — Votre femme? 
 
 — Oui, ma femme. 
 
 Et le jeune homme raconte alors ce qui s'est pass& II vivait seul avec sa mere, 
 i* la campagne, dans un cl ateau ; sa vieille et sainte mere avait une jeune lectrice, 
 belle et spirifcuelle. Dans cette frequentation de tous les instants, Loris etait devenu 
 amoureux cle la demoiselle et avait voulu 1'epouser. 
 
 Mais sa mere, qui avait du bon sens et jugeait autrement que lui les merites et les 
 qualites de la lectrice, avait refuse son consentement a une telle union et me ue avait 
 con<>edie la jeune personne. Loris, desespere et toujours plein d'amour, lui avait 
 assigne un rendez-vous a Saiiit-Petersbourg, ou ils s'etaient rejoints et maries, en 
 cacbette, devant un pretre, en esperant toujours que lot ou tard la mere consentirait 
 a ce mariage et que les deux epoux devant Dieu pourraient eufin se proclamer tels 
 devant le monde. 
 
 La jeune femme etait coquette et semblait prefer un peu trop d'attention aux* 
 flatteries des bommes; une fois, Loris avait du se presenter cbez Vladimir, pour le 
 prier de cesser ses assiduites et ses galanteries vis-a-vis de sa femme Vanda. 
 
 Les cboses en etaient-la, et Loris n'avait aucun soupcon sur la conduite de sa 
 fei^.~e, quand un jour, parti pour aller au chateau de sa mere, il ne put prendre le 
 train et rentra cbez lui. II n'y trouva qu'une vieille domestique qui rapportait a sa 
 maitresse une lettre de Vladimir lui assignant un rendez-vous pour cette nuit. Cette 
 lettre etait une reponse a une autre de la femme de Loris qui prevenait Vladimir du 
 depart de son mari. 
 
 Loris court cbez Vladimir, ne l'y trouve pas, mais apercoit dans un tiroir encore 
 ouvert la lettre de sa femme: il s'en empare et court au rendez-vous des deux 
 criminels. 
 
 Le rendez-vous avait lieu dans une maison isolee, louee pour Vladimir sous un 
 faux nom. Loris s'y introduit, surprend les deux amants; un duel immediat a lieu, 
 Vladimir tire le premier et manque Loris, qui, tirant a son tour, blesse mortellement 
 son adversaire. 
 
 Pendant ce temps, la femme coupable s'est enfuie, sans prendre ses vetements de 
 fourrure, et s'est refugiee dans la maison d'une amie, ou eUe a trouve la mort des 
 suites du froid qu'elle a ressenti dans sa fuite precipitee. 
 
 Loris, lui aussi, est alle chercher un asile chez un de ses amis, nomme Boroff, qui 
 lui a facilite les moyens de passer la frontiere. — Ce Boroff, qui se trouvait bier encore 
 a Paris chez la Comtesse Olga, vient justement de partir pour P<,tersbourg pour dire 
 toute la veritu a l'Empereur pour essayer d'obtenir la grace de Loris. Mais il ne l'ob- 
 tiendra certainement pas, tant que le Prefet de Police sera Yariskine, le pere de 
 Vladimii\ 
 
 Fedora s'etonne de ce que la femme de Loris n'ait pas parle avant de mourir. 
 A quoi Loris explique qu'elle s'etait tue par erainte d'etre compromise et d'etre envoyee 
 en Siberie. 
 
 Maintenant, comment a-t-on ete tout de suite sur la vraie piste du meurtrier ? 
 Qui a ete assez clairvoyant et assez mecbant pour deviner que c'etait Loris et pour 
 mettre toute la police a ses trousses ? Le jeune homme l'ignore.
 
 FEDORA. 21 
 
 Fedirare assures him. "Why do you complain?" she says, "why, then, did you become 
 a nihilist ?" These words evidently astonish Loris. He is not a nihilist, he says, has 
 never been one and does not deal in politics. 
 
 "But" Fedora exclaims incredulously, "why then did you shoot Vladimir 
 Yariskine ? " 
 
 "I did not kill him as a nihilist," interrupts Loris, "it was because he took my 
 wife away from me!" 
 
 "Your wife?" 
 
 "Yes, my wife." 
 
 The young man then tells how the affair occurred. He was living alone with nis 
 mother at his country residence; his aged and beloved mother had a young companion 
 handsome and spirituelle. By force of long association Loris fell in love with the lady 
 and had asked her to marry him ; but his mother, who was a very sensible woman and 
 who had taken a different view of the merits and qualities of her companion, had 
 refused her consent to the union and had even dismissed the young woman. 
 
 Loris, in despair and still deeply in love, had given her rendez-vous at St. Peters- 
 burg, where they met and were married in secret, hoping that, sooner or later, the 
 mother would give her consent, and that the two who were married before God would 
 soon be able to proclaim themselves husband and wife before the world . 
 
 The young wife was a decided coquette and seemed to lend a too willing ear to 
 the flatteries of men. Once Loris had been forced to go to Vladimir and beg him to 
 cease his attentions to his wife Vanda. 
 
 Matters stood thus and Loris had no suspicion concerning his wife's conduct, when 
 one day, having started to catch a train, in order to pay a visit to his mother in the 
 country, he misses the train and comes back home. He finds no one but an old ser- 
 vant, who is bringing back to her mistress a letter from Vladimir arranging a meeting 
 for the same evening. This letter is an answer to one written bv Loris' wife informing 
 Vladimir of the departure of her husband. Loris rushes to Vladimir's house, does 
 n«t find him in, but perceives in the drawer of his study table his wife's letter. He 
 seizes it, reads its contents and flies to the place of rendez-vous. 
 
 This meeting had been appointed in an isolated house, rented by Vladimir under 
 an assumed name. Loris forces his way in, surprises the delinquents, and the result is 
 a duel upon the spot. 
 
 Vladimir fires first and misses Loris, who, firing in his turn, mortally wounds his 
 adversary. 
 
 During this time the guilty wife escapes, without taking with her her heavy fur 
 cloak. She seeks refuge in the house of a friend is taken ill with pneumonia caused 
 by the exposure, and dies within a week. 
 
 For his own part, Loris sought refuge with a friend named Boroff, who found 
 means to get him out of the country — This Boroff, who was yesterday still in Paris 
 at the Countess Olga's, has just left for St. Petersburg to lay the whole truth before 
 the Emperor and to try to obtain Boris's pardon. This he will certainly not do, as 
 long as Yariskine, the father of Vladimir, is Prefect of Police. 
 
 Fedora is astonished that Loris's wife did not disclose the truth before dying, but 
 Loris explains that she was silent from fear of being convicted as an accomplice in the 
 crime and being sent to Siberia. 
 
 As to who put justice on the track of the murderer and as to who was astute 
 enough or malicious enough to guess the truth and betray him to the police, Loris 
 is entirely ignorant. 
 
 Not knowing whether Loris is a most consulate villain or whether he is really
 
 22 FEDORA. 
 
 Ne sachant vraiment si Loris est un profond miserable ou un martyr bien a 
 plaindre, Fedora met en doute la veracite du recit qu'elle vient d'entendre. 
 
 Pour lui prouver que tout est vrai dans ce qu'il a dit, Loris lui montre la lettre 
 de sa femme Vanda, qu'il a prise dans le tiroir de Vladimir ; cette preuve ne suffisant 
 pas a Fedora, il lui donne a lire toutes les lettres que Vladimir avait adressees a sa 
 femme et que Loris a trouvees chez elle la nuit meme du meurtre. 
 
 Fedora les prend, eu recommit l'ecrituie et les lit ; au fur et a mesure qu'elle les 
 parcourt, une revolution terrible se fait en elle. Elle voit dans ces lettres que Vladi- 
 mir parle d'elle avec le plus grand dedain, qu'il jure a sa maitresse qu'il ne se marie 
 que force par son pere, qu'il n'aimera jamais que la femme de Loris et que, meme 
 aprcs l'odieux marriage qu'on lui impose, sa seule femme continuera d'etre elle, et 
 que Fedora ne sera jamais rien pour lui. 
 
 Devant ces revelations inattendues, ces preuves irrecusables, Fedora ne doute 
 plus ; mais que faire ? 
 
 Elle lui offre de partir elle-meme pour la Russie et d'aller demander sa grace ; 
 s'il ne consent pas, elle restera elle aussi, car elle l'aime maintenant et ne veut j^lus le 
 quitter. 
 
 Loris declare qu'il est trop tard, qu'il vient justement de recevoir une lettre de 
 son frere Valerien, dans laquelle il lui annonce que ses biens sont confisques et qu'il 
 est condamne a mort. Devant la miserable existence qui lui est faite desormais, il ne 
 se croit plus le droit d'importuner Fedora de sa presence et de son amour et, en 
 meme temps que pour lui faire sa penible confession, e'estpour lui dire un adieu eter- 
 nel qu'il est venu cette nuit chez elle. 
 
 Mais Fedora se souvient tout-a-coup que Loris ne peut sortir de la maison sans 
 etre srussitot enleve, assassine meme, par les hommes qu'elle a places aux alentours 
 pour cela. Si Loris sort, il est perdu, et elle ne peut plus le sauver .... Elle le supplie 
 done de rester, d'attendre, de ne pas la quitter . . Mais il est tard, et Loris insiste 
 pour sortir, ne fvit-ce que par le respect qu'il a pour la Princesse et qu'il ne veut pas 
 laisser effleurer par la malveillance du monde. 
 
 Devant ce danger imminent, ne se souvenant plus que du martyr de cet inno- 
 cent, de son amour pour elle et de la mort a laquelle il court ; fremissant aussi d'in- 
 dignation au souvenir de l'infamie du lache et traitre Vladimir, Fedora n'hesite plus 
 .... Elle ne peut pas lui raconter qu'elle-meme a place des gens pour l'assassiner, 
 mais elle le prie, le supplie, au nom de son amour pour lui! Elle se donne a lui, elle 
 n'a que lui au monde, elle ne veut pas qu'il parte, elle veut le garder. Que lui fait la 
 malveillance publique ? Elle l'aime ! ... 
 
 Et Loris, "»on moins amoureux, non moins passionne qu'elle, reste cbez Fedora!
 
 FEDORA. 25 
 
 the victim of circumstances that he claims himself to be, Fedora allows herself to doubt 
 the veracity of the story she has just heard. 
 
 In order to prove the entire truth of what he has said, Loris shows her the letter 
 of his wife Vanda, which he had found in Vladimir's study; this proof not being 
 , sufficient to convince Fedora he gives her to read all Vladimir's letters to Vanda, 
 .' which Loris had found in his wife's room the night of the murder. 
 
 Fedora takes them, recognizes the handwriting and reads them. As she reads a 
 terrible change comes over her. She sees by these letters that Vladimir had spoken 
 of her in terms of the greatest scorn, that he had sworn to his mistress that he was 
 being forced into marriage with Fedora by his father, that he would never love any 
 woman but Vanda and that even after the odious marriage that was forced upon him 
 she would still continue to be his only true wife, and that Fedora would never be 
 anything to him in comparison with herself. 
 
 These unexpected revelations, these unimpeachable proofs at last convince Fe- 
 dora. She no longer doubts ! But what is to be done ? She offers to go, herself, to 
 Russia and ask for his pardon; if he refuses she will stay and share his exile, for she 
 now loves him and no longer wishes to leave him. 
 
 Loris declares that it is too late. He has just received a letter from bis brother 
 Valerian, in which the latter announces that all his lands and belongings have been 
 confiscated and that he has been condemned to death ! Seeing the miserable exist- 
 ence which lies before him, he no longer feels that he has the right to annoy Fedora 
 with his presence or his love, and tells her that he has come to her, not only in order 
 to lay before her his painful confession, but also to bid her an eternal farewell. 
 
 He is about to take his departure, when Fedora suddenly remembers that Loris 
 cannot leave the house without falling into the hands of the very men she has had 
 
 stationed without. He may even be murdered in the struggle ! - If Loris 
 
 crosses the threshold of the house he is lost, and she cannot save him ! 
 
 She begs him to stay, to wait, not to leave her — but it is late, and Loris 
 
 insists upon going, were it only out of respect for the Princess whom he does not wish 
 touched by the slightest breath of scandal. 
 
 Before this imminent danger, only remembering the martyrdom of this innocent 
 man, his love for her and the certain death toward which he is unconsciously going, 
 and shuddering, too, with indignation at the remembrance of the false, despicable 
 
 Vladimir, Fedora no longer hesitates. She can not tell him that she has 
 
 stationed men without to kidnap and perhaps murder him, but she begs, she implores 
 
 him in the name of her love for him, to stay > She is his, she has but him m 
 
 the world, he shall not go, he must stay with her ! "What does she care for 
 
 scandal ? She loves him ! 
 
 And Loris, who is no less in love than she, is won over by her entreaties and 
 stays! 
 
 Curtain.
 
 24 iEJJOiixv. 
 
 Actk Quatrikmk. 
 
 Nous avons laisse Fedora et Loris dans les bras l'un de l'autre, oubliant les 
 dangers du moment et ne pensant plus aux eventuabtes redoutables de l'avenir. 
 
 Quand le jour est venu, Fedora, congediant les homines de police, a bien fait 
 monter Loris sur son yacht, mais ce n'etait plus pour le livrer a la justice russe; ils 
 sont alles ensemble dans l'ile anglaise de Jersey, sur les cotes de France. La, ils ont 
 vecu pendant quinze jours, en pleine lune de miel, loin du monde et des tenioins 
 importuns. 
 
 Cependant, a Paris, leurs amis et connaissances savent ce qui er> est et s'entre- 
 tiennent fort de cette escapade amoureuse. 
 
 C'est ce que se racontent Siriex et la Comtesse Olga, qui se trouvent en presence 
 dans le salon do Fedora, a Paris, ou. la princesse et Loris viennent de rentrer apres 
 leurs deux semaines d'amour sans melange. 
 
 La Comtesse Olga envie leur sort et leur amour. Elle fait, en effet, a Siriex le 
 recit de ses malheurs personnels. Depuis quinze jours, bien des cboses ont traverse 
 son existence; elle ne veut plus se fier a personne desormais, et elle va se retirer loin 
 du monde et de ses perfidies. Elle est desolee et decouragee pour toujours. Cet 
 homme qu'elle amait tant, qu'elle tachait de lancer et de rendre celebre, ce pretendu 
 exile, ce pianiste incomparable, Boleslas Lasinski en un mot, n'etait qu'un vil 
 miserable. Elle le croyait jaloux par amour parce qu'il l'empechait de sortir, la 
 
 suivait partout et epiait la moindre de ses demarches Helas! non! c'etait tout 
 
 simplement un espion du gouvernement russe que Ton avait attache a ses pas. 
 Depuis qu'elle le sait, elle est desesperee, furieuse, et ne pense plus qu'a disparaitre de 
 la societe parisienne. Son pianiste l'a rendue a jamais ridicule. 
 
 Fedora, elle, pense tout autrement a, propos de 1'amour. Elle est heureuse au 
 possible, et elle le raconte a Siriex. Celui-ci s'emerveille beaucoup de voir ces redou- 
 tables femmes du Nord, s'acharnant a la vengeance, voulant bvrer un homme a la tor- 
 ture et a l'echafaud et finissant par tomber dans ses bras en lui criant : Je t'aime ! 
 
 Toutefois, Siriex est venu voir Fedora pour un motif serieux ; il lui apporte les 
 nouvelles des evenements qui se sont passes depuis quinze jours. II les tient de bonne 
 source, etant secretaire du Ministre a qui Ton adresse toutes les communications des 
 pays t-trangers. 
 
 La premiere nouvelle qu'apporte Siriex est la disgrace du prefet de police 
 Yariskine ; destitue, et probablement arrete en ce moment a cause de sa mauvaise 
 conduite et de ses nombreux abus de pouvoir, ce farouche tyran n'est plus a craindre 
 aujoui'd'hui pour Loris. 
 
 Les autres nouvelles sont, au contraire, mauvaises et sinistres. Sur une denon- 
 ciation, arrivee de Paiis au gouvernement russe, on a arrete le frere de Loris, Valerien 
 Ipanoff, capitaine dans la garde imperiale. Yariskine, encore alors prefet de police, 
 l'a fait arreter comme nihiliste et l'a fait jeter dans un cachot profond au dessous du 
 niveau de la Neva ; le fleuve a deborde le jour meme, et Valerien est niort noye dans 
 son cachot. Le lendemain, il etait demontre que ce jeune officier n'etait pasun nihiliste; 
 l'indignation publique a ete portee a, son comble contre Yariskine, et cela a ete une 
 des causes de sa disgrace.
 
 FEDORA. 25 
 
 Act Fourth. 
 
 The last act left Fedora and Loris in each others' arms forgetful of the dangers of 
 the present and the perils of the future. 
 
 When day breaks Fedora goes out, sends away the detectives and then hurries 
 Loris on board of her yacht, but it is no longer in order to surrender him to the 
 Russian government. They go together to the Isle of Jersey off the coast of France. 
 There they live for several weeks in full honeymoon, far from the world and unwelcome 
 witnesses. 
 
 Nevertheless, at Paris, their friends and acquaintancesfind out the secret and 
 comment is rife about the escapade of the two lovers. 
 
 This what Siriex and the Countess Olga are speaking about, when they meet in 
 Fedora's, who, with Loris, has just returned from their stolen visit to the Isle of Jersey. 
 
 The Countess Olga envies their experience and their love; in fact she is just now 
 giving Siriex the full recital of her personal grievances. Since two weeks ago many 
 things have changed in her life ; she will henceforth believe in no living soul, she is 
 going to go far from the world and its deceits; she is in despair and discouraged for 
 life . . This man whom she had so loved, whom she had introduced into society and 
 tried to render famous, this pretended exile, this incomparable pianist, Boleslas 
 Lasinski, in fact was nothing but a vile miscreant. She believed him in love and 
 jealous because he did not want her to go out without following her and spying out 
 her slightest actions ! . . . . Alas ! no ! He was nothing but a Russian spy ! Since she 
 has found this out she is heart-broken, furious, and only thinks of disappearing from 
 Parisian society where she is sure every one is laughing at her. 
 
 Fedora, for her part, takes love from an entirely different point of view. She is 
 happy, wondrously happy, and tells Siriex so. The letter is puzzled to account for the 
 hidden motives of action in these women from Northern climes, who throw themselves 
 with all their soul into a scheme of revenge, dooming their victim to the scaffold and 
 end by rushing into his arms crying: "I love you! " 
 
 Notwithstanding this, Siriex has come to see Fedora for serious reasons, in fact 
 he brings most important news from Russia. He has them from the most reliable of 
 sources, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 
 
 The first piece of news which Siriex brings is the disgrace of the Prefect of Police, 
 Yariskine, degraded and probably arrested by this time for his numerous abuses of 
 power. This tyrant, then, is no longer to be feared for Loris. 
 
 The rest of the news is bad and disheartening. Upon a denunciation from Paris 
 to the Russian gouvernment, Valerian Ipanoff, Loris' brother, captain of the Czar's 
 body-guard, has been arrested. Yariskine, still prefect at this time, has had him thrown 
 into a dungeon below the level of the river Niva, which overflowed during the night, 
 and Valerian was drowned in his cell. The very next day it was fully proven that the 
 young man was innocent and public indignation had been so great over this blunder 
 that it proved one of the potent factors which led to Yariskine's downfall. 
 
 "Unhappily this disaster is not the only one. The mother of the two Ipanoffs, 
 already broken down by the sentence of death passed on Loris,- on hearing of 
 Valerian's frightful end, falls dead. These two sinister events are directly traceable
 
 26 FEDORA. 
 
 Malheureuseinent, ce malheur n'a pas ete le seul. La mere des deux Ipanof£ 
 deja atteree par la condanination a mort de Loris, est tombee raide morte en appre- 
 nant l'epouvantable et injuste fin de Valerien. Ces deux malheurs sont dus au denon- 
 ciateur inconnu qui seinble s'etre si particulierernent acharne contre la famille Ipanoff. 
 
 Fedora, epouvantee de son ceavre, perd la tete ets'iujurie. . Sernblant s'adresser 
 a une autre personne, elle insulte le miserable denonciateur, le tigre feroce qui a cause 
 de tels malheurs . . . Et Loris, qui l'entend et qui voit, en entrant dans le salon, la 
 douleur et la colere de sa bien-aimee Fedora, la remereie avec une vive et recounais- 
 sante emotion. 
 
 Fedora recule d'abord devant ces remerciements, qu'elle est si loin de meriter, et 
 elle s'ecrie qu'elle est une miserable ! 
 
 — Pourquoi etes-vous une miserable? demande Loris etonne. 
 
 — Parce que, j'aitpu vous croire coupable et criminel, repood la priacesse. 
 
 — Eh ! qu'importe ! dit Loris. Vous l'avez cru, comme beaucoup d'autres l'ont 
 era. Vous ne le croyez plus anjourd'hui, e'est l'essentiel. Vous m'aimez, n'est-ce pas 
 mon bonbeur, mon absolution, ma consolation ? 
 
 Depuis qu'ils sout partis de Paris, il est arrive plusieurs lettres de Itussie pour 
 Loris ; elles ont ete adressees chez Fedora afin que les espions russes ne les saisissent 
 pas chez lui. II les prend et les ouvre. II commence par un telegramme, qui est de 
 son ami Boroff ; Loris y lit ces mots : " J'ai obtenu ta grace." 
 
 Sa joie eclate en voyant son honneur repare, ainsi que sa fortune ; il pourra 
 rentrer dans son pays et y epouser Fedora . . . 
 
 Puis, il lit les lettres, tandis que Fedora reste muette et glacee de terreur en eora- 
 prenant que bientot tout son bonlieur va s'evanouir sans espoir de retour. 
 
 Dans lea lettres que lit Loris, se trouve le lamentable recit de l'epouvantable mort 
 de son frere Valerien et de la triste fin de leur mere bien aimee. Mais Loris y lit 
 aussi qu'on lui revelera le nom de l'iniame siccusateur, du denonciateur qui a ainsi 
 menti et cause tant de maux inseparables. 
 
 Ah ! comme il tarde a Loris de connaitre ce nom et de punir ce lache et ignoble 
 faussaire ! 
 
 Fedora tremble de tous ses membres; non certes qu'elle craigne la mort, mais elle 
 sent bien qu'elle va perdre l'amour de Loris .... 
 
 Aussi, supplie-t-elle son amant de rester calme, genereux ; de ne plus chercher 
 de vengeance .... Ne lui reste-t-il pas l'avenir, la fortune et l'amour ? 
 
 Loris la rassure ; il l'aimera toujours, mais il lui est bien permis de rechercher et 
 de punir l'ennemi inconnu qui lui a enleve son honneur et sa famille. Ce moment 
 ne tardera pas puisque, des que son ami Boroff sera arrive a Paris, il saura 
 le nom de l'infame delateur. Apres sa vengeance, il sera tout a Fedora, car il l'aime, 
 il l'adore ! ... 
 
 On annonce Boroff. Fedora ne veut pas que Loris le recoive ; elle veut, aupara- 
 vant, lui dire tout. Elle connait l'infame denonciateur ; e'est une femme. Faut-il, 
 doit-on se venger d'une femme ? 
 
 — Vous- la connaissez done ? crie Loris. 
 
 — Oui, pardonnez-la, oubliez-la, ayez pitie d'elle ! 
 
 Ces mots n'arretent pas Loris, qui donne l'ordre d'introduire Boroff. En enten- 
 dant cet ordre, Fedora n'y tient plus ; elle avale un poison mortel qu'elle tenait ren- 
 ferme dans un bijou byzantin, provenant de ses ancetres les Emj)ereurs de Constanti- 
 nople, et qu'elle j)ortait constamment suspendu a son cou ; elle s'affaisse, elle palit et 
 demande tellement grace pour la coupable que Loris, frappe d'une idee subite, com-
 
 FEDORA. 27 
 
 to the unknown denunciation, who seems to be so obstinateiy bent upoD the destruc- 
 tion of the Ipanoff family. 
 
 Fedora is thunderstruck at the result of her work of revenge. She loses her head 
 and upbraids herself bitterly, speaking as if she were another person, she insults the 
 miserable person, the blood-thirsty wretch who has caused all this misfortune .... 
 And Loris who, as he enters the room, overhears and sees all this — the grief and 
 despair of his beloved Fedora — thanks her with fervent giatitude and adoration in 
 his eyes. 
 
 Fedora at first shrinks fx-om his thanks, which she is so far from deserving, and 
 cries out in her anguish that she is a wretch ! ... 
 
 " Why a wretch, dear ? " asks Loris astonished. 
 
 "Because I could have believed you guilty and a criminal," answers Fedora. 
 
 " Well, what of that ! " says Loris ; " you merely believed wh: t a great many other 
 people believed. You no longer believe it, that is the principal thing. You love me! 
 Is not that my happiness, my absolution, my consolation ? " 
 
 Since their departure from Paris, several letters from Russia have arrived for 
 Loris. They have been addressed in care of Fedora so that the Russian spies could 
 not have them seized and opened. He takes them and opens them one by one. He 
 commences, however, with a telegram which is from his friend Boroff. Loris reads 
 
 these words : " I have obtained your pardon " ! His joy is unbounded at thus 
 
 seeing his honor and his fortune both saved. He can now go back to Russia and wed 
 
 Fedora — He continues reading his letters whilst Fedora stands dumb and 
 
 frozen with terror, as the thought dawns in her mind that all her present happiness is 
 sure to depart and soon, never to return. 
 
 In his letters Loris finds the sad story of his brother's awful death and the terrible 
 end of his beloved mother. But Loris also reads that the name of his infamous 
 accuser is known and will be revealed to him ; this wretch who has so lied and 
 intrigued as to cause this horrible succession of calamities. 
 
 Ah! How Loris longs to know this name and at last punish the cowardly 
 calumniator ! 
 
 Fedora trembles from head to foot, not that she fears death, but that she sees 
 that she is about to lose Loris' love. 
 
 She only begs her lover to be calm, to be generous, not to seek revenge.— — Has 
 he not her love, his fortune and a great future before him ? 
 
 Loris reassures her. He wiU always love her, but he must be allowed to hunt 
 down this man and punish, as it deserves, the crime of the destruction of an innocent 
 family. The moment for justice to be meted out will not be long delayed for, as soon 
 as his friend Boroff arrives in Paris, he will know the name of his infamous traducer. 
 The vengeance once accomplished, he swears to devote himself to her, for he loves 
 her, he worships her ! . . . . 
 
 Boroff is announced. Fedora does not want Loris to receive him. She wants 
 first to tell him something. The infamous traducer whom he seeks is a woman! 
 Will he, ought he to avenge himself on a woman ? 
 
 " You know her, then ?" he cries 
 
 "Yes !" she answers. "Ah! Forgive her! forget her! have pity on her!" 
 
 The words, however, do not stop Loris, who orders Boroff to be shown in. 
 
 i Fedora, as she hears this order, can bear it no longer; she swallows a deadly poison 
 
 "J which she has always carried in the seal of the Byzantine ring which she inherited 
 
 from her ancestors, the Emperors of Constantinople, and which she carries as a locket. 
 
 She staggers slightly, grows pale and begs so piteously for the culprit, that Loris,
 
 28 FEDORA. 
 
 prend que c'est elle qui l'a denonce et qui a cause la mort de ses parents. II l'accable 
 
 d'iniures et de maledictions _ 
 
 Mais, la voyant ainsi deseperee, Loris sent bientot son amour reprendre le des- 
 sus ; il veut lui pardonner, il essaie de la rappeler a la vie, il crie au secours I . . . . C est 
 
 en vain ! Le poison est inexorable Fedora meurt sous les baisers de son amant, 
 
 impuissant a la sauver ! 
 
 FIN.
 
 FEDOBA. 29 
 
 •truck by a sudden thought, understands at last that it is she "who denounced him 
 and has caused the death of his mother and his brother Valerian. He showers upon 
 
 her his deepest curses and maledictions. But, at last, seeing her so utterly 
 
 overcome with despair, Loris feels his love for her resume its sway. He pardons 
 
 her and tries to bring her back to life — he calls for help ! — It is too late ! 
 
 The poison is fatal ! Fedora dies in the arms of her lover, who is powerless to 
 
 aave her!
 
 26l?o
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 CALIFORNIA 
 
 SAM D!€ 
 
 \ 
 
 ARGUMENT 
 
 OF THE PLAY 
 
 OF 
 
 FEDORA 
 
 DRAMA IN FOUR ACTS. 
 
 THE MASTER-PIECE 
 
 OF 
 
 VICTORIEN SARDOU 
 
 AS PRESENTED BY MADAME 
 
 SARAH BERNHARDT 
 
 AND' 
 
 HER POWERFUL COMPANY. 
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1887, by F. Rullman, in the Offict 
 of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 
 
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 of an ill, " 
 
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 n 
 
 THE KNABE PIANOS. 
 
 TESTIMONIALS FROM DISTINGUISHED ARTISTS, COMPOSERS 
 
 AND MUSICIANS. 
 
 Henri Vieuxtemps, the renowned violinist, wrote of his "delight on hearing the clear 
 and full tone of the Knabe pianos." 
 
 Pauline Lucca, the world-renowned prima donna, not only expressed her " convic- 
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 Minnie Hauk, another unrivaled prima donna, for many years so g'eat a favorite 
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 We desire to express to you our big^i appreciation of yo^r very excellent pianofortes. During 
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 "a'*i'"x""'.'' 
 
 
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